Music maestro A R Rahman and actor Aamir Khan, classical vocalist Pandit Channulal Mishra and prominent hotelier Capt C P Krishnan Nair were conferred with Padma Bhushan awards by President Pratibha Patil at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi.

Nobel laureate of Indian origin Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, noted theatre personality Ebrahim Alkazi were on Wednesday conferred Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, by President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Music maestro A R Rahman and Bollywood star Aamir Khan, classical vocalist Pandit Channulal Mishra and prominent hotelier Capt C P Krishnan Nair were among those honoured with Padma Bhushan awards at a glittering ceremony at the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

Among the Padma Bhushan awardees this year are eminent neurosurgeon Satya Paul Agarwal and eminent cardiac surgeon Ramakant Panda, who performed 'beating heart' on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year.

Former Vice Chancellor of Goa University P R Dubhashi for civil service, Prof Tan Chung and Prof A J Paulraj received the award in literature and education and science and engineering categories respectively.

Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen and S K Bandyopadhyay received Padma Bhushan in the public affairs category.

In the trade and industry category Alluri Venkata Satyanarayana Raju, founder chairman of Nagarjuna Construction Company, J R Gangaramani, President of Al Fara'a Group in the UAE and Ravi Pillai of RP Group of industries received Padma Shri awards.